Power presses with multiple point drive means



Dec. 10, 1957 o. PUHLMANN I 2,815,709

POWER PRESSES WITH MULTIPLE POINT DRIVE MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001;. 11, 1956 'lli f illllllllml 0770 PUHLM/WN Dec. 10, 1957 o,PUHLMANN I 2,815,709

POWER PRESSES WITH MULTiPL-E POINT DRIVE MEANS Filed Oct. 11, 1956 I sSheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 10, 1957 l o. PUHLMANN 2,815,709

POWER PRESSES WITH MULTIPLE POINT DRIVE MEANS m d Oct. 11, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet 5 iA/VE/VTGR 07 70 PUHL MAW/V PDWER PRESSES WITH MULTIPLEPOINT DRIVE MEANS Otto Puhlmann, Goppingen-Wurttemberg, Germany, as-

signor to L. Schuler Ag., Goppingen-Wurttemberg, Germany ApplicationOctober 11, 1956, Serial No. 615,324

Claims priority, application Germany October 14, 1955 12 Claims. (Cl.100-257) The invention relates to power presses and likemachines, andmore specifically to a press with multiple point drive means for theworkholder, ram or like press or machine part, said drive meansincluding spindles to transmit to the press part or parts the necessarydisplacement forces, common drive means being arranged for the variousadjustment elements associated with the respective drive or actuatingpoints. a

In order to ensure adjustment or attainment of th proper working heightand like working conditions in known presses of this type, theindividual adjustment elements at the drive points of the workholder orram are operated jointly with one another by means of a handwheel, forexample, and thus the associated press part is either raised or loweredslightly substantially parallel to itself. Should the workholder or theram become tilted in its guides or when it was desired to rearrange thesame exactly parallel to the guides, it was necessary in known pressesof this type to manually rotate an eccentric arranged at the respectivedrive point through the intermediary of a suitable gear train.

In contradistinction to known press structures of this type theinvention resides in the fact that independently actuatable clutches orcouplings are connected in the individual drive branches leading to thevarious adjustment elements, and in the fact that the angle throughwhich the two clutch halves of each of these clutches can be rotatedrelative to one another is limited by means of a catch arrangementbridging the clutch or coupling.

It is one of the principal objects and advantages of the presentinvention to provide means envisaging that the movable and guided presspart cannot be tilted or canted to more than a maximum permissibleextent.

Through the restriction of the angle through which the two clutch halvescan be rotated relative to one another, the possible degree or extent ofcanting is predetermined to a certain magnitude. When the maximumpermissible extent of canting has been obtained, the clutch half orsection leading to the output of the press drive means is automaticallyengaged through the intermediary of the aforesaid catch arrangement bythe clutch half or section means rendering the possibility of easilystraightening oraligning the guided press part through asimpleengagement;

and release of the clutches which are. arrangedinthe drive branches forthe I adjustment elements associated with the various drive points. w 1i The invention contemplatesthat the catchlarrangement nited StatesPatent ice bridging each coupling or clutch is provided with a catch pinor dog fixedly connected to one of the clutch sections for rotationtherewith, while in the path of movement of this dog or pin .is arrangedan abutment fixedly connected to and rotatable with the other clutchsection.

The invention further envisages that there is arranged in the path ofmovement of the dog or pin of one of the clutch halves an intermediatepiece which transmits a part of the rotary movement of said one clutchhalf or section to the other clutch half or section.

It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide meansfacilitating a limited or predetermined relative movement between thetwo coupling or clutch sections which extend through-an arc of more than360.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means conductiveto a very efiicacious indicating mechanism responsive to the relativerotation between the two coupling sections of each of the individualcouplings or clutches and making discernible the extent of canting ofthe guided press part.

The Various characteristics and features of the invention may beembodied either singly or jointly in a press constructed as indicatedhereinabove.

The invention, of course, may be applied advantageously not only topresses, but also to stamping or punching machines, trimming, foldingand cutting machines and the like, which are similarly equipped withmovable parts of the aforesaid type.

These and other objects of the invention will become further apparentfrom the following detailed description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sheet metal or work holder employedin a press or machine made according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is partly in section an enlarged side elevational view of theworkholder of Fig. 1, additional parts being shown in connection withsaid workholder;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line lII-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale of a typeof clutch employed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- VIII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of another type of clutchemployed in accordance with the present invention; Q

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another type of clutchemployed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII XII of Fig. 11; j

Fig. 13 is alongitudinal sectional view of yet another type of clutchemployed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the clutch shown in Fig. 13; i

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the clutch shown in Fig..13.;' and"0 :1 l

Fig; 16. is a sectional view of a detail of the clutch shown in Figs. 13to'15.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to of the drawings, there isdisclosed a sheet metal or workholder 1 which is displaceably guided inthe press frame or standards by means of suitable guide means (notshown) and is driven, during operation of the press, by four connectingrods 2 (partly shown) which are linked to spindles 3 journalled on theworkholder 1 at the four corners A, B, C and D thereof by means ofscrew-threaded nuts 4. The spindle engaging nuts 4 are rotatablysupported by the workholder so that upon rotation of the nuts 4 thelength of each spindle between said nuts and the junction of saidspindle with the respective connecting rod 2 can be varied. As will bereadily realized, upon simultaneous rotation of the nuts at all fourdrive points (corners A to D), the sheet or workholder 1 will beadjusted to a higher or lower position as it may be required for thecorrect positioning of the tools.

The drive for the individual s indle nuts 4 at the four drive points Ato- D is effected jointly by a motor 5 through the intermediary of atransmission system in cluding bevelgearing 6, shaft 7, bevel gears 8and 9, shaft 10 and meshing spur gears 11 and 12. The gear 12 is fixedlykeyed to a shaft 13.

Interconnected between shaft 13 and each respective spindle-nut 4 is aclaw clutch 14, 15. The clutch sleeve 14 is keyed to the shaft 13 bymeans of keys 53 (Fig. 5), whereby sleeve 14 rotates with the shaft butmay be axially displaced relative thereto. The sleeve 14 is provided atits end facing the clutch section 15 with claws or teeth 16 which engagein corresponding claws or teeth of the clutch section 15. The latter isfixedly connected or integral with a bevel gear 17, which meshes withcorresponding bevel crow'n4" of the spindle-nut 4.

The clutch sleeve 14is pressed against the clutch section 15 by means ofa spring 18. Engagement and disengagement of the clutch is effectedby ashaft 19 rotatably supported in the workholder 1 (Fig. 3). A handle ormanipulating lever 20 is connected to one end of the shaft 19 forswinging movement about an axle 21 perpendicular to the shaft 19,- theother end of the shaft 19 having fixed thereto a head 24 provided withslide blocks 22 engaging, respectively, in grooves 23 formed on theperiphery and extending longitudinally of the clutch sleeve 14 (Fig. 2).The lever 20 extends through a face plate 25 exteriorly of theworkholder, the front or face plate 25 being provided with a stamped outguide slot 59 and catch depressions 60 determining respective endpositions of the lever 20'.

When the motor 5 is started, all spindle nuts 4 are uniformly driven ifall the clutches 14, 15 are engaged or closed, whereby the workholder 1is displaced in a direction parallel to its guides so as to alter itsworking height.- If it is desired, however, that the workholder 1 becanted slightly and not displacedparallel to itself, then one or more ofthe clutches 14, 15 will be disengagedor opened, as required, so thatthe respective spindle nuts 4 which are associated with these clutchesare not driven or actuated.

In order to ensure that the canting or tilting of the workholder in itsguides does not exceed a permissible maximum extent, the sleeve 14 isprovided with a dog or catch 26 while the clutch section 15 isprovidedwith an abutment or projection 27 which extends along the sleeve14 to such an extent that it is still in the path of movement of the dog26 even when the sleeve 14 is disengaged from the clutch section 15.

Thus, even when the clutch 14, 15 is disengaged, the dog 26' entrains'the clutch section 15 after at most one complete rotation of the shaft13, whereby the spindle nut 4 associated with this clutch is againactuated so that the workholder no longer performs its canting motion.

The press is provided with mechanisms which indicate the extent to which'the workholder has been: canted in its guides. The rotary motionofeach' clutchrseciiion 15 4 is transmitted through the intermediary ofsprockets 2S encircling the section 15, to a sprocket wheel 30 via asprocket chain 29, the wheel 30 driving a shaft 37 through a gear train31, 32, 33, 34, 35 (Fig. 3) and 36. The shaft 37 is rotatably arrangedin the workholder 1 and carries at one of its ends an indicator 38. Adisc 39 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 37, the hub of this disc beingconstructed in the form of a sprocket wheel 40.

The disc 39 is driven by the shaft 13 through the intermediary of achain drive or transmission 41, 42 and 43 and a gear train 44, 45, 46,47 48' (Fig. 4) and 49, the last element of this gear train being asprocket wheel 50 the rotation of which is transmitted to various discs39 by means of a chain 51 also engaging the sprocket wheel-like hubs 40.

When any of the clutches 14, 15 is closed or engaged, the indicator 38and the corresponding disc 39 associated with this particular clutchrotate jointly and at the same angular speed. If this clutch is nowopened or disengaged while the motor 5 is still running, the respectiveindicator 38 remains stationary relative to the disc 39 still rotatingwith the clutch sleeve 14 until such time as the clutch I4, 15 is againclosed or until the clutch section 15 is entrained into rotation uponengagement of the dog 26 on the clutch sleeve 14 with the abutment 27the clutch section 15.

The relative rotation between the indicator 33 and the disc 39 which maybe read off from the disc 39 by virtue of suitable gr'aduations orindicia (not shown) provided thereon, is thus a measure of the extent ofcanting or tilting of the workholder.

The pitches of the threaded portions on the spindles 3 and thetransmission ratios between the pairs of bevel gears 17 and 4" are sodetermined with respect to the angle through which the sleeve 14 canrotate relative to the clutch section 15 depending on the respectivewidths of the-dog 26 and abutment 27 that the maximum possible relativerotation between; the clutch halves or sections 14 and 15 correspondsexactly to the maximum permissible extent of can-ting of the workholder.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 8, it will be seen that the clutch has beenslightly modified by the provision of intermediate ring 52 whichisrotatably supported on an extended portion of a clutch section 15corresponding otherwise to the clutch section 15 illustrated in Figs. 1to"5. The intermediate ring 52 is provided with an abutment 54 extendinginto the path of movement of the dog 26 connected to the clutch sleeve14. At the end of the ring 52 opposite the abutment 54 is arranged adog- 55 in the path of movement of which is positioned an abutment 56fixedly connected to the clutch section 15'.

Uponopening or disengaging of the clutch 14, 15' while themotor 5remains running, the stillrotating clutch sleeve'14 first entrai'n's theintermediate ring 5?. into rotation as soon as the dog 25 contacts theabutment 5'4. Only when the dog 55 of the now rotating i-i'itermediatering 52' comes into engagement with the abutment 56 is-the'v clutch'section 15" entrained to follow said rotation. The provision of thisintermediate ring 52 thus renders it possible to set the clutch section15' into rotation only after the sleeve 14 has been rotated through anangle of more than 360.

In lieu of only one intermediate ring 52, it will, of course, berealized that a plurality of such intermediate rings could be providedso as to enable any desired relative rotation between the clutchsections 14 and 15 to be attained.

Turning now to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be seen that the embodiment ofaclutch shown diners from that illustrated on Figs. l to 5 only in thatthe clutch section 15" is provided at its end facing. the sleeve 14 witha sleevelike extension 57 partly surrounding the sleeve 14-. Anabutment- 58' is arranged on the inner surface of the extension 57 withwhich abutmentdog. 26* of sleeve 14 may engage to"entr"ai'n the clutchsection 15 into rotation.

In the embodiment of the clutch illustrated in .Figs. 11 and 12, the dogis constituted by a vertical pin26' threaded into a corresponding recessin the sleeve 14. Similarly, the abutment is constituted by a horizontalpin 27' threaded into a corresponding recess in the clutch section 15.

It will be readily understood that the principles of the invention maybe applied equally well to a ram of a press or to any type of tool ortool holder the driving of which is effected over a plurality of spacedpoints.

The angle through which the two coupling sections may be rotatedrelative to one another can also be limited by other means employed inlieu of a dog or catch arrangement bridging the clutch. Merely by way ofexample, means may be provided to re-engage the clutch automatically assoon as the maximum permissible extent of canting of the workholder (orof the ram, tool or tool holder) has been attained.

As may be seen from Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the clutch sections 14, 15" areprovided with electric contacts which, upon attainment of the aforesaidmaximum permissible degree of canting, stop the motor or re-engage theclutch through the intermediary of suitable electromagnets (not shown).

To this end, the clutch sleeve 14 is provided with an abutment orextension 61 in the path of movement of which are located electric limitswitches 62 fixed to the clutch section 15'. Current is fed to theswitches 62 by means of suitable brushes 63 and commutator rings 64.

If the canting of the workholder exceeds the maximum permissible extent,the abutment 61 is pressed against one of the limit switches 62 tothereby either open or close a suitable electric circuit (not shown). Bysuch opening or closing of the circuit the electric motor 5 may bedeactuated either directly or through the intermediary of relays.

As may be seen from Fig. 16, in accordance with a refinement of thepresent invention an electromagnet 65 is fixed to the workholder 1 inthe vicinity of the front plate 25. Connected to the core or armature ofthis electromagnet is an extension 66 which is linked to themanipulating lever 20. The magnet 65 is energized through the limitswitches 62 (see Fig. 15) mounted on the clutch section 15 uponattainment of the maximum permissible extent of relative rotationbetween the clutch sections, at which time the magnet lifts the leverthrough the intermediary of the extension 66, so that the clutch isclosed or engaged by the action of the spring 18, enabling thecorresponding spindle nut 4 to be driven again.

It can thus be seen, that there has been provided according to theinvention a machine or press having a plurality of drive points for aworkholder, ram, and like press part comprising respective spindle meanspassing through said press part at said drive points, first means onsaid press part engaging said spindle means, second means connectablewith said first means for adjusting said spindle means relative to saidpress part, said second means'including clutch means, shaft means, drivemeans common to said shaft means being in operative connection throughsaid shaft means with said common drive means, respectively, each clutchmeans being coordinated to respective spindle means for bringing aboutengagement and disengagement of the latter with respect to said commondrive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle meansindependently of each other and relative to said press part at saiddrive points, each coupling means being provided with two cooperablecoupling parts, first catch means connected with one of the saidcoupling parts, second catch means attached to the other coupling partand forming abutment means thereon, said abutment means being angularlydisplaced with respect to but arranged in the path of said first catchmeans of said one coupling part for acting upon said second means, evenif the respective coupling parts are in disengagement position, therebyestablishing again connection between said first and second means andlimiting said adjustment of the respective spindle means to apredetermined extent relative to the remaining spindle means, andrespective operable means for actuating said clutch means, respectively.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that suchobvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a power press and like machine having a plurality of drive pointsfor the workholder, ram, and like press part; spindle means engagingsaid press part at said drive points, means for transmittingdisplacement forces to said spindle means relative to said press part,means for adjusting said transmitting means relative to said press part,common drive means for said adjusting means, independently actuatableclutch means each including complementary clutch sections andoperatively connectable with said adjusting means, respectively, andmeans limiting the angle through which respective complementary clutchsections of said clutch means may be rotated relative to one another.

2. In a press having a plurality of drive points for the workholder,ram, and like press part; respective spindle means engaging said presspart at said drive points, means for transmitting displacement forces tosaid press part via said spindle means, shaft means located above saidpress part, means for adjusting said transmitting means relative to saidpress part, common drive means operatively connectable with saidadjusting means, independently actuatable clutch means positioned onsaid shaft means, respectively, and located between said common drivemeans and said adjusting means and for operation of the latter,respectively, and means operatively related to said clutch means forlimiting the angle through which respective clutch means may be actuatedrelative to one another.

3. A press having a plurality of drive points for the workholder, ram,and like press part comprising respective spindle means engaging saidpress part at said drive points, means for transmitting displacementforces to said press part via said spindle means, means for adjustingsaid spindle means relative to said press part, common drive meansoperatively related with said adjusting means, respective clutch meansin operative connection with said common drive means, respectively, andcoordinated to said spindle means for bringing about engagement anddisengagement of the latter, respectively, with said common drive meansto thereby permit adjustment movement of said spindle meansindependently of each other relative to said press part at said drivepoints, and respective operable means in driving relation with saidclutch means for limiting the angle through which said clutch means maybe actuated for effectuating said adjustment movement.

4. A press according to claim 3, each of said coupling means beingprovided with two complementary parts, first catch means fixedlyconnected with one of the said coupling parts, and second catch meansattached to the other coupling part and forming abutment means thereon,said abutment means being arranged in the path of said first catch meansof said one coupling part.

5. A press according to claim 3, each of said coupling means beingprovided with two complementary parts, one of said coupling partsincluding an intermediary member carried thereon, said intermediarymember being provided with first catch means, said other coupling partbeing provided with second catch means for cooperation with said firstcatch means, whereby rotary movement of said one coupling part may betransferred through said intermediary member and its coordinated firstcatch means through engagement with said second catch means to saidother coupling part.

6. A press according to claim 3, each coupling means being provided withtwo complementary coupling parts, one of said coupling parts beingprovided with first catch means, the other coupling part being providedwith abut ment-forming second catch means, said second catch means beingrotatable about the axis of said second coupling part, and third catchmeans associated with said abutmentforming second catch means and in thepath of which a further abutment is disposed on said second couplingpart.

7. A press according to claim 3, including two rotary coupling partsassociated with each coupling means, catch means on one of the saidcoupling parts, abutment means on the other coupling part and arrangedfor cooperation with said catch means, and at least one intermediarymember located between said coupling parts, whereby rotative movement ofsaid one coupling part is transferred via said intermediary member ontothe other coupling part.

8. A- press according to claim 3, each of saidcoupling means includingtwo engageable coupling parts, and indicat'ing means operativelyconnected to said coupling means to perceive relative movement betweensaid two coupling parts of each coupling means.

9. A press according to claim 8, said indicating means including discmeans driven by one of the said coupling parts, and indicator hand meansoperatively connected to the other coupling part of said coupling means.

10. A press having a plurality of drive points for a workholder, ram,and like press part comprising respective spindle means passing throughsaid press part at said drive points, first means on said press partengaging said spindle means, second means connectable with said firstmeans for adjusting said spindle means relativeto said press part, saidsecond means including clutch means, shaft means, drive means common tosaid shaft means, said clutch means being in operative connectionthrough said shaft means with said common drive means, respectively,each clutchmeans being coordinated to respective spindle means forbringing about engagement and disengagement of the latter with respectto said common drive means to thereby permit adjustment movement of saidspindle means independently of each other and relative to said presspart at said drive points, each coupling means being provided with twocoopera-ble coupling parts, first catch means connected with one of thesaid coupling parts, second catch means attached to the other couplingpart and forming abutment means thereon, said abutment means beingangularly displaced with respect to but arranged in the path of saidfirst catch means of said one coupling part for acting upon said secondmeans, even if the respective coupling parts are in disengagementposition, thereby establishing again connection between said first andsecond means and limiting said adjustment of the respective spindlemeans to a predetermined extent relative to the remaining spindle means,and respective operable means for actuating said clutch means,respectively.

11. A press and like machine havinga plurality of drive points for aworkholder, ram, and like part adapted to be adjusted in its workingposition comprising respective spindle means passing through said partat said drive points, first operable means located on said part engagingsaid spindle means, second operable means connectable with said firstoperable means for position adjusting said spindle means relative tosaid part, said second operable means including clutch means, shaftmeans, drive means common to said shaft means, said clutch means beingin operative connection through said shaft means with said common drivemeans, respectively, each clutch means being coordinated to a respectivespindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of thelatter with respect to said common drive means to thereby permitadjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each otherand relative to the position of said part at said drive points, eachcoupling means being provided with two cooperable coupling parts, firstcatch means connected with one of the said coupling parts, second catchmeans operatively connected with the other coupling part, said secondcatch means being disposed in the path of, but angularly displaced withrespect to said first catch means for acting upon said second operablemeans, even if the respective coupling parts are in disengagementposition, thereby establishing connection between said first and secondoperable means and limiting said position adjustment of the respectivespindle means to a predetermined extent relative to the remainingspindle means.

12, In a press and like machine having a plurality of drive points for aworkholder, ram, and like part adapted to be adjusted in its workingposition and having respective spindle means passing through said presspart at said drive points; first operable means located on said part andengaging said spindle means, second operable means connectable with saidfirst operable means for position adjusting said spindle means relativeto said part, said second operable means including clutch means, shaftmeans, drive means common to said shaft means, said clutch means beingin operative connection through said shaft means with said common drivemeans, respectively, each clutch means being coordinated to a respectivespindle means for bringing about engagement and disengagement of thelatter with respect to said common drive means to thereby permitadjustment movement of said spindle means independently of each otherand relative to the position of said part at said drive points, eachcoupling means being provided with two cooperable coupling parts,

respective catch means operatively connected to said References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Treet Dec. 26, 1939Byerlein July 11, 1950

